High-speed propulsion of magnetoelectric nanovehicle actuated by bio-cellular electric field sensing

Abstract

We have demonstrated and experimentally verified a nanovehicle which exhibits magnetoelectric phenomenon and provides a swift cell targeting technique. The magnetoelectric nanovehicle (MENV) is an inorganic core-shell nanostructure where the core and shell interact with each other in magnetic field excitation to exhibit magnetoelectric effect. Under oscillating magnetic field excitation, these MENV generates oscillating surface electric charge i.e., magnetoelectricity and attain directional propelling motion in fluidic medium due to the Lorentz forces. Further under magnetic field excitation, the MENV can dynamically sense the electric field of a single biological cell and gain propulsion speed in bio-cellular environment due to torque experience by electrostatic repulsion from the electrical field of the cells encountered on its propelling trajectory. The maximum speed attained by these MENV driven by ac magnetic field (40 Oe, 30 Hz) in Human Epithelial cell (HEP2) environment reaches to 258.159 μm/s as observed in the in-vitro experiments performed in microvascular structured microfluidic chamber. The MENVs can be transported and immobilized to a targeted cell at desired location with micron scale precision irrespective of the cellular density hindrance experienced on the propelling pathway. Interestingly the MENV excel the propelling speed with the increase in cellular density on its propulsion path. MENV does not need tertiary guidance system for the regulated directional movement while cell targeting.